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Bells and blue lights:
(A Christmas Tradition)
I wrote this little story about a year ago, around Christmas time.
I thought some folks would like to see it again. Happy Holidays!
Once, many years ago, there was a quiet, beautiful, warm parlor
with a Christmas tree in the corner near the fireplace. The tree
always appeared during Christmas eve by some kind of magic. It
was always there on Christmas morning. And yes, gifts also appeared.
In that parlor was a little kid named Willie. Some of the gifts
were addressed to him and he was allowed to touch them and open
them. That was good.
What was bad, was that Willie was not allowed to touch the Christmas
tree. No little kids were allowed to touch the tree. This was
awful, for on that tree were little glass bells with real clappers
which went "ting-a-ling" when they were tapped. It was
too much for Willie.
He would sit and look at those bells. Then, when no one else was
in the parlor, he would creep up with his eyes intense, his tongue
clamped between his teeth, and his tiny index finger cocked, just
so. Then he would tap one of the bells. Of course, the bell would
go "ting-a-ling." Then Willie's name would change. Always
from the kitchen would come that firm voice rising in tone at
the end, "William." Willie, being young, did
not realize that Mother Gaffer had very good ears. He was sure
she could see through walls.
That was many, many years ago. Willie grew up, but he never forgot
the tree with the bells he was not allowed to touch. So, when
he got married and got his very own tree, he became very churlish.
He would not allow any ornaments except bells on the tree. Real
glass bells with real clappers which went "ting-a-ling"
when he tapped them, which he did quite frequently.
At first, Mrs. Gaffer was dismayed, for she had some ideas of
her own about how a Christmas tree should be. However, Willie
had a way with words and, being a wonderful woman, she came to
understand just how important the bells were to him. Then she
began to cooperate and they agreed that the tree should also have
blue lights. This is how the tradition of the bells and blue lights
came about. Willie and Mrs. Gaffer would hunt for bells whenever
they went shopping.
Later, when children were born, Willie made a firm rule. "Christmas
trees," he said, "are for children, as is Christmas.
Our children will be allowed to help with the tree and touch it
anytime. In addition, any kids who come here will be allowed to
touch the tree."
Said Mrs. Gaffer, "Some of the bells are sure to get broken."
"Just so," said Willie. "Then we will replace them.
They are, after all, only bells."
Mrs. Gaffer smiled and shook her head. She knew logic was not
Willie's strong suit.
Sure enough, one day Willie's daughter bumped a table full of
bells ready to put on the tree. The table tipped over and a few
bells were broke. Willie did not cry but the daughter was devastated.
She broke out in sobs. It took Willie several minutes to console
her.
"We will buy more bells," he said, and they did.
Of course, the children grew up and finally moved away to make
a life of their own. One day, Willie visited his daughter who
had a three year old daughter of her own. They were discussing
what to do on Christmas.
Willie pointed to his daughter's tree and said, "That tree
is for your kids, as is Christmas. It belongs to them. You should
stay home on Christmas so that you can make it, for your kids,
the same as we made it for you."
His daughter smiled and agreed. "We will come to visit you
the day after Christmas," she said.
Now, Willie and Mrs. Gaffer spend Christmas at home alone. Just
as they did in the beginning. Of course the tree is still there
with its bells and blue lights. No one has counted lately, but
at last count, there were about 200 little glass bells which go
"ting-a-ling" when you tap them, as Willie does quite
frequently.
This is the way it was for Willie as a kid and the way it was
for his kids. It's about the tree and not touching and touching
and a nice warm feeling. It's about bells and blue lights. It's
about the way it should be for all kids whether it Christmas,
Hanukkah, or some other tradition.
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